Malden Recreation Baseball Camp Brings Some Summer Fun

Malden High School coaches and players join campers for instruction and baseball fun

By Steve Freker

Baseball took center stage once again at Bob Rotondi Field at Howard Park last week when Malden Recreation hosted the 10th Annual Summer Baseball Camp for kids in grades 3-7. Over 30 young players participated in the week-long event, which featured instruction, drills, games and most important of all, lots of fun. The Malden Rec Baseball Camp was free of charge to all who participated and was intended to both reinforce skills and ability in experienced players — some of whom are already participating in the local Malden Youth Baseball (Cal Ripken) Program — as well as introduce “America’s Pastime” to young residents who may not be familiar with baseball.

According to Malden High School baseball assistant coach Michael Nicholson, who ran the camp with the assistance of other MHS coaches and a staff of Malden High players, the camp hit on both goals. “We had a lot of players who were on teams and looking for tips and drills on how to get better,” Coach Nicholson said, “and then we had other kids who were probably on a baseball field for the first time. We welcome all levels of players and it was a very enjoyable and fun week for everyone.”

Coach Nicholson said the “Future Tornados” players learned and practiced all the fundamental skills, such as throwing the ball, catching, fielding, bunting, hitting and baserunning. “Everyone got better at all of their baseball skills and that was our goal when the week began,” he said.

Malden High School baseball players assisting at the camp included “Bo” Bogan Stead, who was a Malden High senior captain this past spring, Nick D’Anna, Davante Layne, Devin Otero Milonopoulos, Jaylen Fuentes Rivera, Kyle Nickerson and Leandro Ortiz Castro.

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More Baseball Camps planned throughout the year

This was the 10th consecutive summer of Malden Rec Baseball Camp, which also coordinates and hosts well-attended Baseball Instructional Camps in fall (October) and the spring (March), in collaboration with Malden Youth Baseball and Malden High School Baseball. Malden Recreation Coordinator Joe Levine and assistant Laura Perez have also developed a strong working relationship with the Emerson College Baseball Program, which uses Maplewood Park in Malden as its fall and early spring baseball training site. Emerson College baseball players and coaches also have helped plan and run instructional events in Malden for young players in the past.

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Other Camps/Clinics planned in Field Hockey, Soccer, Tennis and Volleyball this summer

Malden Recreation already hosted a camp/clinic in softball and this week was hosting another in soccer. It will host others in the following sports activities this summer:

— Field hockey, July 28-August 1, Macdonald Stadium, Malden

— Volleyball, August 4-August 8, Finn Gym, Malden High

— Tennis, August 11-August 15, Amerige Park, Malden

Malden Recreation also hosts a number of activities with the arts and the outdoors. Check out all the offerings, and to register for any of the remaining sports activity camp/clinics, go to the website: www.maldenma.myrec.com